At home we have many things that we can use to take care of our plants and the garden. One of them is neither more nor less than the vinegar. Yes Yes. This liquid that we normally add to salads for example can be one of our best allies to avoid (or solve) problems that may arise.
So if you want to know what vinegar is for for plants, then I'll tell you everything.
Using vinegar for plants
Increase the acidity of the water
There are many plants -especially those that come from China or Japan, such as japanese maples- which cannot be watered with calcareous water since, otherwise, their leaves would begin to look chlorotic, that is, yellow with very visible nerves. To avoid this, what can be done is add a small spoonful of vinegar to a liter of water.
To prevent it from becoming too acidic, check your pH with pH strips or a digital meter (for sale here), because if it goes too low (less than 4) it could also cause problems for the plants.
Repel animals
If we do not want animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits, raccoons or deer to come to our garden, it is highly recommended to fill a spray bottle with water and add a tablespoon of vinegar. Then there will only be spray those areas that are problematic, such as the entrance or the corners.
Animals tend to have a much more developed sense of smell than ours, so strong odors such as vinegar are not to the taste of many, like the ones we have named. Anyway, let me tell you that if cats go (or live) in your garden, it is also highly recommended to avoid putting plants in their areas of passage.
For example, if you know that they use a table to climb the wall, give them a 'hallway' where they can walk and jump without having to drop anything.
Deoxidize tools
The tools, if they are not taken care of (even taking care of them) with the passage of time they rust. To slow down the process it is very interesting to put them inside a basin with pure vinegar.
In addition, the vinegar will serve to disinfect them, something that is really important. Microorganisms are not visible to the naked eye, but that does not mean they are not there. Therefore, if tools are used over and over again, without even cleaning them, we run the risk of making the plants sick.
Remove fungus
Fungi can kill our beloved plants in a matter of days or weeks, but now we can avoid this by spraying them with pure vinegar. It also serves to treat seedbeds.
It is what we said before: nothing like taking preventive measures to avoid losing plants due to fungi and other microorganisms.
Natural molluscicide
Snails and slugs appear especially in the rainy season, and when they do… they do it "big time." They come out in great numbers, heading for the plants. Once they get to them, they will start eating them. But fortunately We can prevent the situation from getting worse by spraying the plants with vinegar.
These mollusks have a voracious appetite. To have the plants more protected, you can put mosquito netting around them, as if it were a kind of greenhouse. It will be especially useful if, for example, you have to go on a trip and there is a forecast of rain in your area, because when you return you will find your pots just as healthy and whole as when you left them 😉.
Can you water the plants with vinegar?
Vinegar is very acidic, around 2.4 and 3.4. The most acidophilic plants, such as azaleas or camellias, they need the pH to be at least 4. If we water only with vinegar the roots will burn, and the rest of the plant will also die.
However, it can be used to lower the pH of the water if it is very calcareous, as long as said pH is analyzed to prevent it from dropping too low. For this reason, and taking into account that vinegar is cheaper than oil (which can also be used to lower the pH), it is very interesting for those who grow acidophilic plants in an area where the water ... well, it's not too good 🙂, as it happens in many parts of the Mediterranean region for example.
Is it good to fumigate with vinegar?
Everything will depend on whether it is mixed with water and what the pH of this mixture is. If it is a minimum of 4, yes that is good, since it is a good product to repel animals and remove fungi.
Did you know about these uses of vinegar for plants? I hope that from now on you can better control the animals and possible pests or diseases 🙂.
I HAVE A RUBBER TREE THAT IS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OLD I HAVE IT IN A POT NEAR A WINDOW IT GETS SUN AND I WATER IT 2 TIMES A WEEK BUT IT IS DRYING WHAT I DO TO SAVE IT
Hi Martha.
If you have never transplanted it, I recommend moving it to a larger pot in spring, since it probably lacks space for its roots.
In the event that you have recently changed the pot, fertilize it with universal fertilizer that you can find in nurseries, following the instructions specified on the product packaging.
A greeting.
I have a San Pedro and in this last week I found that it has a kind of fungus, the leaves have many small dots that grow, they are brown spots with a yellow edge and the part where it is found makes a lump, I think it is a plague because all trees that are the same on the street have the same detail.
Will I be able to fumigate with pure vinegar? Or diluted it with water? And how much?
I also have a walnut tree that frequently wakes up with chewed leaves and I tried soapy water but had no change.
Both trees are big already
Good Morning. Can a houseplant die from having watered it once with water and vinegar? Should I water only with water again to try to clean the soil of that vinegar that I have added? (Should I have read before heeding other people's advice ?? ♀️) Thank you very much in advance
Hello namesake.
Well, it depends on whether the water is acidic, neutral or alkaline, and on the amount of vinegar you have added. Also, of the needs of the plant.
For example: if vinegar has been added to a very alkaline water to water an acid plant (azalea, camellia, Japanese maple or another), and with this you have managed to lower the pH from 8 to 5, then nothing will happen to it.
But if vinegar has been added to a water with a pH of 6 or lower, then the plant will suffer damage, because vinegar is very acidic and lowers the pH quite a bit.
It is a complicated subject. We leave you this link in case you want to know more.
My advice: water with plain water. Add plenty of it. But once; then water again with water as often as it touches.
And with that said, what happens to your plant? Let us see if we can help you. 🙂
Greetings.
#thanks for the information
Thanks to you, greetings!
My husband mistakenly applied undiluted white vinegar to my green duranta plants and the leaves are dying, I already watered them with plenty of water. But what should I do so they don't die. Thanks
Hello Graciela.
Now the only thing to do is wait. You can cut the leaves once they are brown or black.
Don't over water. That is, water only when you see that the soil is drying out.
Greetings and good luck!
I have been watering my jasmine with a little vinegar water, but they are with the leaves down and also the rose bushes, not a single flower is born and they are like standing, I do not know if I have overdosed, can I do something to help them? Thank you.
Hello maite.
Vinegar only has to be used when the water is very hard, and not suitable for consumption.
The dose will depend on the pH of that water, so first of all you have to see what it is with a meter, what you can get here.
It is very easy to use, since you simply have to put it in water, and it will immediately tell you its pH. If it is 8 or higher, then yes you have to mix it with a little vinegar. But be careful, because it doesn't have to be below 4 either. Every time you add vinegar, re-measure the pH of the water.
But one thing, how often do you water them? It is possible that the problem is the frequency of irrigation, and not so much the water. If you want, send us some photos of your plants by Facebook And we help you.
Greetings.